Parshas Toldos 5787
עקב אשר שמע אברהם בקולי וישמר משמרתי...(כו-ה)
When telling Yitzchok to stay in Eretz Yisroel, Hashem promised Yitzchok tremendous berachah, but initially connected that berachah to the zechus of Avraham, עקב אשר שמע אברהם בקולי. After several confrontations with the local Pelishtim over the digging of wells, Avimelech and his general, Phichol, approached Yitzchok seeking a peace treaty, stating ראה ראינו כי היה ה' עמך, we have seen that Hashem is with you (26:28). Interestingly, although Yitzchok had been reopening wells originally dug by his father, Avraham is no longer mentioned. What changed in the Pelishtim's perception of Yitzchok, and why is Avraham's zechus no longer part of the picture?
Immediately before this encounter, the Torah tells us, ויבן שם מזבח ויקרא בשם השם. The Seforno explains that until this point, Yitzchok had not yet actively spread Hashem's name in the world. Consequently, his berachah was dependent on the zechus of his father. Once Yitzchok began "ויקרא בשם השם" and spread Hashem's message, he merited berachah in his own right. When a person makes the Almighty's presence known in the world, he merits His presence in his own life in a greater way. That Siyata Dishmaya becomes apparent to those around him, just as Avimelech recognized that Hashem was with Yitzchok.
What did Avraham do that was so special? Says the Seforno, he was Gomel Chesed, and through that, he inspired people to serve Hashem.
A story is told of a Yid in Kovna, standing in a terribly long trying to obtain a visa in an attempt to escape the Nazis. Agitated and nervous, he pushed a little, and the young man ahead of him allowed him to pass. Years later, he stood at the Levaya for R' Aharon Kotler zt"l. Wanting to get closer to the Aron, he pushed forward and seeing his determination, the man in front of him graciously allowed him to pass. Suddenly he realized, it was the same young man from the visa line! Only now he knew who he was - R' Shneur Kotler zt"l, R Aharon's son and successor as Rosh Yeshivah of Bais Medrash Govoha.